Hydrocarbon-burner.



. PATBNTED AUG. 28, 1995,.

H. LEMP. HYDROCARBON BURNER. APPLIUATION FILED Mmes, 1901.

2. SHEETS-SHEET 1 hmm/Lor ke/mp.

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m Q m nu 6 ma PATENTED AUG. 23, 1906.

H. LEMP. E'EROCARBON BURN-EIL AE1? :11111011 FILED 1111.28, 1901-.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HermannL@ b5 mzs.

UNITED STATES HERMANN LEMP, oF LYNN. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO'RQBY ASSIGNMENTS, To GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT oEEICE.

HYpnooAnBoN-BURNER. i

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, HERMANN LEM?, a citizenof the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,

have invented certain new' and useful Imrovements in Hydrocarbon-Burners, of which the following is a s eciication.

This application is a dlivision of my pending application, Serial No. 6,805, which division 1s made in accordance with the requirements of thev United States Patent Office under theprovisions of Rules 41 and 42.

Kerosene-vapor burners of the jet type as distinguished from the Bunsen type found on the market at the time of my invention provided for the burning of onl a comparatively small amount oi' oil. ence in order to supply the required'amount of'heat for an automobile or similar boiler it was necessary to use a considerable number of burners, each with its own vaporizer. An apparatus of this kind is open to Serious objections, the princi- 'pal ones being the difficulty in starting and the continual plugging of the discharge-open- .ings by carbonized oil or sediment. Manifestly the trouble is multiplied with an increase in the number of burners in use.

The requisites of a kerosene-burner for automobile use are a capacity for starting by kerosene as distinguished from those burners requiring alcohol or gasolene, perfect combustion under vall conditions of service, Which means freedom from smoke and odor, Wide range of capacity and absolute freedom from back firing, simplicity in construction, reliability in operation, meaningthereby that the lburner must notclog by constantservice or be blown out by the Wind, and be capable of relighting of itself in case the flame is acciden- 40 tally extinguished. The burnermust' also have the necessary capacity to furnish the required amount of heat and' over a wide range, so that itmay respond immediately to changes in demand Whether they be smally or great. In other Words, it .must work with a low pressure, suchas five pounds, (which is suicient to maintain the fire in a lbanked condition.) and With a higher pressure, amountingin.someinstances to sixty pounds 5o per square inch... 2- y I. i -1 The presentinyention has for its objects to -provide a `kerosene-burnerj which eliminates Specication of Letters Patent. Original application iled February 28, 1900, Serial No. 6,805 Divided and this application filed January 2 8, 1901, Serial yNo.4

' ing may be employed and the tw thefburnerisa circular coil of-pipeJ I.the feed-waterv asy it asses fr 'l te1.tankto, theboiler. heile all of the objectionable features Specified embraces vthe requisites above mentione For a consideration of what Lc Sider., be novel and my invention attenti l A to the description and claimsA l thereto. A In the accompanying drawings, whic .Illustrate kmy invention, Figure 1 is a verti cal section of a boiler and burner. Fig. 2 is a per-.L y

spective view of the boiler-casing. Fig.` 3 is a longitudinal section of the burner. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of theburner, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail viewwo a plunger used for cleaning theopening ,the ,y

burner.

vThe boiler is of the general as a dash-boiler and is composedi of ries of grids A, made up) of "seamless and preferablyv of small ore but large section. The grids may be bent in suitable form, providing that when/they, assembled spaces or lues are formed,permit ting the products of combustion. to pass freely.

from the bottom to the top. Surrounding the boiler-tube is a metalV casing B, and be` tween the casing and the boiler is a packing of heat-resisting material C, Ysuch as {asbestos, for example. Bolted to the inside kof,

the casing is a frame D, on whichV rests the l asbestos packing, which surrounds the boilertube, and also two transversely-extending tubesE, the latter being employed to support the'boiler-tubes. overmgthejop of the casin is a metal cover F, and inthis connected yWith the exhaustipe'vironi'an engine. .The object of this c amber'i heat then'dexhaust and rendrit lue Situated under the boiler!iis-'gaf ,ifebox I. As here shown, the casing which surrounds the boiler performs the same bo'fliceI fori-:1

the {ire-box; but, if desired, a s

ar te gether. Theiire-boxissubstant qu e,

, l and located Withinthe box and siiriioii u g for IOO

`-:which lis rigidly secured to the casing.

addition to supporting the boiler the frame- J the boiler is shown.

is connected to the upper end of the boiler by .an external connection J By reason of this being located outside of the casing a screw# threaded coupling can be employed. Located between the casing and the coil of pipe and closely surrounding the latter is a packing J2, of heat-resisting material, which is supported by a frameepiece K, that also acts to support the coil of pipe.

It is desirable to prevent the sudden entrance of large quantities of air to the burner, since it cools the hot gases and causes the burner to smoke. To obviate this, the bot@ tom of the casing is closed by a plate K, which also acts to support the burner, and air is admittedV at a point above the fia-me and is suitably baied, iso as to prevent sudden inrushes from any cause.

boiler-supporting tube or frame E and is baffled by the feed-water coil and passes downwardin the corner-spaces between the casing and the coil, and by doing so becomes more or less heated, the burner serving to assist in the circulation of air. Owing to the fact that the stream of vapor from the burner is baffled a short rdistance above the burnerfopening, the fiame spreads laterally without creating asgreat an upward draft as would be the case if the bafile-plate d id not exist. ,'To create a greater updraft `on the burner, I employ a steam-jet, which may `with advantage be the yexhaust from the propelling-engine. The ex- -haust is discharged into the downwardly-ex tending flue G, andwhen the system is in operation the waste products of combustionescape through this flue. In other words, the flames spread horizontally, and the forced draft causes them to bend into a substantially vertical plane, so as to exert their greatest effect on the boiler-tubes.

R ferring to Fig.` 2, a slight modification of The boiler proper is preferably composed of grids'welded together in the same manner as previously described;

"but inplace of utilizing the coil of feed-water pipe as a fire-box I substitute therefor a fireoX L, `made of some heatQresisting material, Y

such as fire-brick, for example. The boilertubes are supported by a frame-plate E, In

plate closes. the opening between theA casing andthe fire-box L and prevents the entering air from passing directly to the' flames at a point above the fire-box. Thefire-'boX may bel of any suitable configuration. l In the present .instance it is shown as cylindrical and 1s supported from underneath by clam s L, and these clamps are secured to the casing B. The casing is perforated by a series of` holes B2 at a point just below the plate E, and air entering these holes passes downward, as indicated by the arrows, and thence upward through the interior of the fire-box.- Inits Air enters thc cas 'ingthrough holes B, -located just below the yorizing the fuel at starting.

'the'fire-box the air becomes more or less heated, and the action of the burner tends to aid the circulation. Owingto the casing being rectangular in shape and the fire-box and feed-,water heater substantially round, plenty of space .is provided at the corners of the casing topermit the air to enter. Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 to 5, the construction of the burner will be described. I have found that in burners of this class it is desirable to have a vessel of com paratively large size for vaporizing, so as to permit free ebullition and also to permit the vapor to leave the vessel without entraining liquid particles of oil, which cause pulsation of the flame. This entraining of the fuel with the vapor is sometimes called Hpriming. The liquid oil should. never come into contact with a red-hot surface on account of carbonizing; but once the vapor is formed it can be superheated without inj ury. The vaporizer should be so constructed and arranged that the liquid fuel has a tendency at all times to flow or vto stay at the lower and cooler end, and the oil should be introduced into the vaporizer at its coldest point and permitted to work gradually toward the hotter and be discharged as vapor at the latter point. I have also found that it is preferable to provide'some fairly quick heating-tube or part near the burner proper to insure the conversion into gas of the liquid fuel at the time of starting and also to superheat the vapor when the burner is in` operation. quick-heating tube there is no opportunity for the vapor to condense before leaving the nozzle, and when used with a single opening, as shown, there is no tendency to I back fire. Mounted on thc base of the boiler-casing is a burner composed of three principal parts M, N, Iand O. The part or tube M is secured to the bottom plate of the boiler or to any asbestos or some similar material, which acts as a temporaryburner for heating and vap- In other words, the temporary burner gives to the main burner lthe capacity for starting with the same fuel that is employed in normal operation. The fuel being kerosene there is no danger even when the tray is flooded. Secured to one of the walls of the chamber and extending past an opening N2. in the tray isa wick l?, which passes through a hole in the bottom `of the boiler casing or support and IIO is accessible when it is desircdto start the apv-l A paratus into operation By dividing the Y trayfinto compartments a suitable Space'is rv-3o provided for'the asbestos or auxiliary starting-burner, the side walls -holdingthe same -in place. .Another advantage-resides in the.

fact that the asbestos can be much more readily renewed and fitted than is the case where it passes around the hub-like.-eXtension on the tray. By separating the asbestos from the central hub the burner can be more easily cleaned and more satisfactorily operated. The invention is designed for use in connection `with automobiles, and anything which contributes to their simplicity as to care or operation is desirable.

'Screw-threaded to the upper end of the hub-like projection on the tray N is the part O, which forms the burner proper, and mountin the nozzle is marde cylindrical, and

found that where this wall is one-fourth of- 12.5

opening through which extends t ed in the end thereof is a detachable screw- Athreaded plug or nozzle Q, havin acentral A he plunger R. It is important to givevthe discharged kerosene-vapor stream a certain definite direction. To do this, the wall of the o erliing ave an inch long satisfactory results can be attained. The' principal feature is to make the passage long enough to give direction to -the jet, and this-without premature baffling, whichcauses a smoky and yellow iiame. The vapor-jet must not be interfered with between the time itleaves the 'nozzle and imping'es on the baflie-plate. Otherwise a yellow flame will result; The jet should be so directed against the baffling means that itv will be spread out in a thin stratum and mix with the proper amount of air to support combustin. The opening can with advantage have a diameter of from .0635 inch to ..07 inch; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific dimensionsmentioned. As a general proposition it may be stated that an opening which is too large will give a poor flame on low pressure, (light duty,) while an opening which is t'oo small has a tendency to cause the fiame to go out under high pressure, (heavy dut) owing-to upper end of the plunger where it passes through the screw-threaded piece or plug Q is not intended to act as a valve except in certain cases, since it makes a loose fit therewith, but is intended to keep the opening in the burner free from foreign matter. Under normal conditions the spring S, working on the lever S', pulls the plunger out .of the vopening 1n the nozzle, and thereby gives full opening for the vapor. The matter' which collects around the opening in thenozzle is very hard, and sometimes avconsiderable effort is required to dislodge it. Connected to the lower end of the lever S is 4a rod vor wirel S2; which extends to any convenient operating-point. By pulling this wire the plunger is forced upward into the opening, and an foreign matter which may have collected will be removed. Sufficient vapor vwill leak out from around the plunger at all times to maintain the fiame and `keep the parts hot for instant use unless thesupply of fuel is entirely cutoff. It is to be noted that-the pin or needle R when the burner-is operating normally is entirely removed from the cylindrical openin in the nozzle. This is important, as it a ords a relativelyv unrestricted opening for the fuel, and thereby prevents the flame from bein yellow. Whenathe needle is insertedin p ace, as-shownin Fig.'3, the size of the opening is greatly reduced, but the velocity of-the vapor still remains high, and since the needle stops at a point at or below the top of the nozzle the vapor is not baffled. It is imperativev with burners of this class that no controlling means or' other devices be inserted between the end vof the nozzle and the baiiie-plate, because the character of theflame will be impaired.

In order to obtainsatisfactory results with a kerosene-burner, .I have found .that a certain denite relation of parts is essential and -that the parts must cooperate a certain specified manner. In order to'insure a blue ame and prevent disagreeable odors, 'the vaor should leave the nozzle-opening under gh velocity and strike a baffle-plate that lis situated in close proximity thereto. The pressure on the fuel service can with advantage be from forty to sixty pounds, and the baffle-plate is preferably situated at a point not less than three-fourths of an inch from the nozzle nor more than one and a half inches. When the baffle-plate is nearer than this, the lvapor will not properly combine with the oxygen and the flame will be yellow and will give off a disagreeable od0r,and when the plate is farther away the flame will be objectionable for the same reasons. In-'thelatter case the flame mayv beextinguished, due to the high pressure on the fuel system. As the vapor-jet strikes the under side of the baffle-plate it spreads out radially and picks up the necessaryamount of air.. By reason of the relation that the nozzle bears to the baffle-plate in the structure shown the proper amount of air will pe picked u whether thepressure be small or great. T s takes place 1n the space extending from aboutthe center of thebaflle-plate to some distance beyond its periphery, which I term the "F carbureting zone, as it is in this space the vapor is car- IIO ' zone.

burcted so that' it will burn with an intense blue flame in the s pace beyond the carbureting zone and which .l terni the combustion Thus it will be seenthe sole function. of the baffle-plate is to scatter or pulverize the vapor and deflect the particles outwardly with considerable force to a distance more or less remote from the baffle-plate previously to ignition, and thereby decreasing the ve locity of the vapor' and producing a llame of large area.

ln order to insure the proper vaporization ofthe kerosene-oil, l have found that it must enter' the vaporizer at the coolest point and gradually increase in temperature to the point of discharge. y This is accomplished by connecting the fuel-pipe leading from the tank to the lower end of the vaporizei T, and preferably this connection is made at or near the plate lil, that separates the burner from the external atmosphere, because consider able difference in temperature exists between the upper and lower sides of the plate. lt is to be noted that the upper side of the plate is subjected to heat from the burner, while the lower side is subjected to the cooling ef-u4 This is particularly fects of the external air. noticeable when the vehicle to which the burner is applied is in operation. lt will thus be seen that the plate K forms a shield by means of which a suitable diderence in temperature is maintained between the incoming liquid fuel and the liquid and gas in the vaporizer or vessel T.

Another thing which l have discovered in connection with kerosene-vapor burners is that the amount of vapor produced by the -vaporizer must automatically increase with the demand for vapor, the amount of fuel necessary to supply the vapor being supplied by a suitable pump'or its equivalent. ln carrying o ut this feature vof my invention the vapoi'izer is'placed a short distance from the burner-nozzle and so related thereto that when the flames are properly baffled they will strike it. lWhen the burner is working under a relatively low pressure-such, for example, as is `the caseV when thc'demand yfor heat is sinall-the flames are chiefly directed toward portions of the vaporizer' adjacent to the baffle-plate, but as the demand increases the increased pressure causes the flames to spread and include the parts of the vaporizer at a greaterdistance from the baflle-plate A greater supply of vapor -energy to meet the demand results in the Vflames enveloping niorefof the vaporizer and as the sipply increases the flame envelope more and more of the vaporize'r. Consequently the amount of vapor produced thereby is correspondingly increased. To state this'feature in a different way, the vaporizer is so constructed that its effective heating-surface increases with 4the increased amount of vapor delivered to the burner. From the foregoing it follows that there is a certain definite level for the oil in the vaporizer for a given condition, and

when the demand for energy is increased this level is lowered. Obviously,A when the derinand for vapor energy i's decreased and theA pressure is reduced. the flames will not en'-` velop so muchof thervaporizcr and the amount of vapor produced will be decreased and the level of the oil will be raised, but i always from 'a cooler tov a hotter point.

addition to the arrangement described is provided which. is more 'easily heated than the other parts of the burner and which is placed in series with and between the vaporizer and the burner-nozzle. By reason of the construction described there is a gradual in-y crease in temperature of the oi'l`froni the time it is delivered to the vaporizer until it issues' as super-heated vapor from the nozzle. By arranging the parts so that there is a graduall increase in temperature of the vapor from start to finish and by delivering the sameat the highest temperature l am enabled to prevent carbonization. l am also able to prevent condensation of the vapor, which is highly objectionable. lf the flame is accidentally extinguished, it will be iinniediately relighted, because the parts are in close proximity to the vapor-streanrand are red hot, or nearly so. l may carry out these features of niy'invention by the follewing means@ Situated on one side of the een :.l stem of the burner is a vessel T, of consider able size, forming a vaporizer and also a res ervoirvand connected by a pipe extending' from its lower end to the oil-reservoir proper. Mounted'on the upper end of the vessel or otherwise connected therewith is a second. vessel T', -which may or may not be filled with asbestos T2 for assisting in the Vaporizing of the fuel. On the under side of the vessel T is formed. or secured a balile-plate T3 for spreading the vapor from the nozzle, so that it will mingle with the air in .the proper manner. Connecting the right-hand end of the vessel T withfthe burner is a curved tube U, which tube is easily heated. This ii'isures the proper vaporization of the fuel before it enters the burner at the time of starting Later on after the parts have been heated the tube U still .continues to carry vapor from the vaporizer to the burner, and it may or may not assist in the vaporizing of the fuel. Tt is preferable that it should, however, because it prevents condensation and insures the' proper temperature of the vapor.

-lt will benoted that the main vaporizer Arises from the point of oil admission, one of the reasons for this being thatv it reduces to a minimum the liability of' liqnid oil being eritrained with the vapor. which entrained oil XCD for want of fuel.

.down the Wick I.

gives a smoky yellow flame and causes pulsation. In the vaporizer shown there is always a body of oil at' the base which gradually getshotter and hotter as it ascends, the top being entirely lled with vapor which is entirely free from entrained oil. The arrangement of parts shown causes the oil to be uniformly heated and only the hottest and driest vapor to be delivered to the nozzle. This also prevents any surging or pulsation of the llame. under relatively high pressure strikes the lbaille-plate T3 and mingles with the proper amount of air to lsupport good combustion. As the pressure increases the flames spread over a greater area and include-more and more of the tube U and the vessels T and T. This means that the vessel T instead of being hot merely at the up er end is hot to a point considerably lower than that, thereby causlng agreater amount-of vapor to be formed. The lncreased pressure 'on the fuel system, d ue to increased demand, is directly responsible for the spreading of the flames, and as the flames spread the effect of the vaporizer is automatically increased -by an amount corresponding to the increase in demand. Conversely, when the demand decreases the iamesenvelop a smaller portion of the vaporizer,an'd this decrease is in accordance with the demand.

Assuming that it is desired to start the boiler into operation, the plunger R is withdrawn, oil under pressure 1s admitted to thevessel T by means of a controlling-valve, and the parts being cold it passes through the vessel T', tubey U, and burner in a liquid state and more or less floods the tray N. The oil works into the asbestos-burnerNS, thence through the o enings N and N2, and t s soon as oil begins to drip from the wick the vsup ly is cut olf, a match is ap lied, and the ame travels up the wick to t e asbestos burner. In practice I have found that when the oil begins to drip from the wick P itis time to cut od the suply to the burner. In a short time after t e Wick takes fire the parts become heated, the fuel is changed to vapor and ceases to flow into the tray, even though a certain amount of fuel be admitted to the receptacle T. When this occurs, the asbestos burner stops As soon as the curved tube U ets hot the oil changes to vapor, and after a ew moments burning the receptacles T and T get so hot that all of the oil in Tl and a portion of that in T is vaporized and the apparatus is in readiness for operation. Under` ordinary working conditions the plunger R is withdrawn from the screw-threaded. lug and the tube or receptacle T is about onealf full of liquid, the balance being vapor. This arrangement constitutes, in effect, a reservoir containing vapor in sufficient quantity The vapor as it is dlscharged to provide for any sudden demand on theA burner.

TheA arrangement of the inclosing casing, with its flues, air-admitting openings, deectors, &c., is not claimed herein, since it forms the subject-matter of a" companion case, Serial No. 143,314, filed February' 14,

1903, as a division of SerialV No.'43,510, filed January 16, 1901.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of operation of .my invention, together with the-apparatus which I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the'apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried` out lby other means. l f

What I claim as new, yand desire to secure Ir, by Letters Patent of theUnited States, isf

1. In a burner, the `combination of a nozzle, a vaporizer havin@r a vertical portion extendin above' and be ow the nozzle so as'to retam liquid fuel at its lowest and coolest part, a main portion extending horizontally over and in close proximity to the nozzle and provided with a baffle-plate which causes the vapor from the nozzle to be deflected horizontally below said main portion of the vaporizer, and a relatively thin vapor-conducting portion connecting the main'portion of the vaporizer with the nozzle. L

2. In a vapor-burner, the combination'of a base, a vaporizer mounted on the base, a connection' for delivering oil to the vaporizer at a point under the base,-a nozzle having a single opening which is much smaller in cross-section than the vaporizer, a tube that is more easily heated than the vaporizer and connected thereto for conveying vapor therefrom to the nozzle and superheating it, and a flat-bottom baffle-plate which is situated loe- -tween the vaporizer and said tube Withits causing it to bu'rn in the space vintermediate l thevaporizer and the tube and-at the same time heat them, substantially as set forth.

3. In a vapor-burner, the combination of a base, a vapor-receptacle, a nozzle, a tray or receiver comprising two connected compart- .ments and locatedin such manner that one compartment will receive oil from the nozzle, a burnerin the other compartment which is supplied from'the oil-receiving compartment, and a wick communicating with the burner, which passes through an opening in` the base and is accessible from underneath.

4. In a vapor-burner, the combination of a base, a nozzle supported by the base, a fuelconveying tube connected with the nozzle, a tray mounted under the tube andthe nozzle, which tray is divided into communicating i compartments, one of said compartments being located adjacent to and extending parallei with the fuel-conveying tube, the other compartment being arranged to receive liquid fuel from the nozzle and convey'it to the first compartment, a burner located in the first compartment, and a Wick which extends from the burner through the base and re-v ceives fuel from the burner.

5. in a vapor-burner, the combination of a nozzle, a vaporizer, a tray for receiving oil fromv the nozzle, said trayT comprising a compartment concentric to the nozzle and a communicating compartment extending to.V one Side thereof and under the vaporizer,v a burner made of asbestos o r similar material in the second compartment, a casing for the burner, and a wick extending downward from the burner toa point outside of the casing whereby the burner may be started into operation.

6. In a burner, the combination of a beilieplate, a nozzle in close proximity thereto Which discharges a jet ofvapor fuel in a deiinite direction against the plate at such velocity as to prevent ignition before the jet strikes the plate and to cause the vapor to be def i'lected in a different direction from that of the jet at reduced velocity to permit burning thereof in a combustion zone beyond the edge of the plate, and a fuehcarrying conduit connected with the nozzle, whichhas a vaporizing portion located in the combustion 'zone on one side of the battle-plate,` a superheating portion on another side of said plate alsoin the combustion zone, and a connect ing portion between the vaporizing and superheating portions.

7. A burner of the jet type7 comprising a vapor-discharging nozzle, a barile-plate arranged adjacent to the nozzle and having a vaporv carbureting zone and a combustion zone entirely surrounding its periphery, a vaporizer connected Withthe nozzleland located beyond the oarbureting zone and in the zone of combustion, a part of said vaporizer being above the nozzleoriiice and a part beseaeee low so that the coolest iiuid Will always collect at the bottom7 a shield for the lower end of the vaporizer, and a conduit for supplying fuel to the vaporizer on the cooler side of the shield.

8.' In a burner, Ithe combination of a bafileplate which' is surrouned by a carbureting` portion, and a downwardly-extending superw heating portion connected with the nozzle.

9. In a vapor-burner, the combinationof a nozzle for discharging the Vapor in the forni of a single stream or column at relatively high velocity, a vaporizer having a part which occupies a vertical position and extends above 'and below the nozzle so that liquid fuel will collect at the bottom, whichis the coolest point, the bore of the nozzle being materially smaller than that of the vaporizer, ya conduit connecting the vaporizer and the nozzle which has a bore smaller than the vaporizer and larger than the nozzle for conveying vapor tothe nozzle and at the same timey superheating it, and a bathe-plate situatediin close proximity to the nozzle-orifice so that it Will receive the stream or columnof Vapor and spread itr outwardly into Athe surrounding combustion zone Where it ignites andheats the vertically-disposed vaporizer and the said vapor-superheating conduit.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of January, 1901.

HERMANN LEM?. 

